by brad hart
Echo Theater Company brings to the stage an incredibly moving and thought-provoking new play that delves into the depths of human connection. Clarkston’s production is the West Coast premiere of a work by the highly acclaimed Samuel D. Hunter, who received the MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant.” Directed by Chris Fields, the play will run from October 21 at the Atwater Village Theatre. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to experience a profoundly poignant, empathetic, and hopeful exploration of the human experience.
In the picturesque town of Clarkston, Washington, two unlikely souls cross paths during the quiet hours of the night shift at Costco. Jake, a gay, well-educated newcomer with middle-class roots and a distant connection to the famous explorer William Clark, has left behind his privileged life in Connecticut following a grave diagnosis. Meanwhile, Chris, an aspiring writer, grapples with the challenges of living in a small town and the burden of having a mother struggling with addiction. As they navigate their respective struggles, a tentative spark of attraction between Jake and Chris blossoms into a complex and profound connection, setting the stage for a compelling and intricate story of love and resilience.
The RAGE Monthly recently had the opportunity to connect with Michael Sturgis, the actor portraying the character of Jake, to gain insight into this captivating production of Clarkston
What inspired you to audition for this role?
I took this role because I was nervous about what it demanded. I have never been in a play as bare and open-hearted as Clarkston, and the challenge was really compelling.
Please provide us with a brief description of the character Jake.
Jake arrives in Clarkston, trying to outrun his terminal illness and desperately searching for some sort of meaning to his life. He is indirectly related to William Clark, and he assumes the Explorer’s spirit when he arrives at his first real job, working the night shift at Costco. In some ways this is his final hope.
Photo by Cooper Bates
What do you enjoy the most about portraying this role?
Jake has got a lot of issues, but he is completely comfortable with his sexuality. And it’s not even that he once felt shame and has since overcome it; he has always known acceptance (his parents were “hyper-okay” with it). It is really cool to play a gay man who experiences homophobia as a cultural phenomenon, rather than credible condemnation.
I also just love being a part of a gay love story, although I wouldn’t even call it that. It is beyond romance, this relationship that develops between Jake and Chris.
How has your experience been collaborating with Sean Luc Rogers in his portrayal of Chris?
I’m so grateful to do this with him. I think of the saying “love means paying attention;” that is what we are doing, really tuning in with one another for about 90 minutes. Jake and Chris reveal themselves to each other in a way that they have never done before, and it is an honor to take this leap of faith with Sean every night. Not to mention, it is a profound pleasure to act with Tasha Ames, who plays Chris’s mother. I am going to miss them both a lot when the run is over.
What do you hope that audiences, especially LGBTQ members, will take away from the play in terms of emotions, thoughts and insights?
What strikes me about Jake and Chris is how incompatible they are, but that they still partner up. This is in large part because of their mutual affection but it is also because they need one another. I feel like we lack a need for connection within the LGBTQ community today, at least in our liberal cities. Gay men – and queer people – used to need one another in order to literally survive. It is a blessing that this is no longer the case, but we’re also kidding ourselves. And the play is a reminder that we do need each other, more than we might care to admit. There is a salvation in the bond between Jake and Chris, who repeatedly choose to stay connected, even when it doesn’t make sense. I hope the play encourages us to be more vulnerable within the community.
Please tell us about the activities you enjoy during your free time.
I have a dog, who is the best. I love spending time in the L.A. improv community, and I also like to leave L.A. when I can!
What are your upcoming career aspirations and goals?
I would love to spend an extended amount of time with a role, either in a long-running play or with a character on a show. I have also been working on a project where I interview and then improvise with senior citizens.
For tickets and more information, visit echotheatercompany.com